5 Steps To Starting Your Summer Weight Loss Program

Getting started on a summer weight loss program is often exciting and scary at the same time. On the one hand, it feels like a brand new beginning and not having to cover-up on the beach. On the other hand you may feel overwhelmed that there’s so much to do and you don’t know where to start.

The hard truth is that the majority of people give up on their weight loss goal once the initial excitement starts to wane and the going gets tough. You absolutely must have these 5 steps in place before embarking on any type of weight loss program. Getting these right will make all the difference between success and failure.

5 Steps To Starting Your Summer Weight Loss Program

1. Writing Down Your ‘Why’

There must be a reason that you’ve decided to start a summer weight loss program. The reason is almost always an emotional one. Maybe you want to look good in your swim suit for your partner. Maybe your favorite summer clothes from last year are too tight to wear. Or you could have young children and you want to get healthy for them so you can play with them outside in the warmer weather.

Whatever the case may be, there’s a reason somewhere deep down in your heart. Your job is to discover what it is and write it down. This may seem like an insignificant step… but it’s the most important one. During times when you’re feeling down and the results are not coming fast enough, you’ll be able to look at your ‘why’ and keep going. The juice must be worth the squeeze and if your why is strong enough… you will stay the course.

2. Tracking Your Progress

This is another important step. Weigh yourself on a scale and write down your weight. Take photos of yourself before embarking on your summer weight loss program. Use a measuring tape to measure the circumference of your arms, thighs, waist, etc.

All these will be very useful when tracking your future progress. Sometime the numbers on the scale may not tell the truth because while you may have lost fat, your body may have gained muscle. In times like these, the photos you take will serve as a good indicator of your progress.

Free Report: 15-Minute Fitness Workouts

3. Plan Your Training Program

You’ll need a mix of strength training and cardio in your workouts. You may also wish to include some flexibility training and meditation. Plan out when you will do the different exercises and what you’ll be doing.

It’ll be a good idea to plan it all a week in advance so that when the day comes, you start the day with a plan to execute. You don’t want to be walking around the gym aimlessly just using whatever machines are available or trying to decide if you should go for a walk, run or swim.

4. Cleaning Up Your Diet

Over 80% of your efforts should be spent on watching your diet. You want to eat clean food that has all the nutrients that your body craves. Most people become overweight because of poor food choices.

It will be good to start a food journal to see where you’re slipping. Slowly and surely eliminate all these negative food choices and aim to eat clean. It will be an uphill task. In fact, this is the most difficult part of losing weight. It’s imperative to change your eating habits to lose the excess pounds and keep them off.

5. Motivating Yourself

Take time to watch weight loss motivational videos or read motivational books. You can find these videos on YouTube. Constantly exposing yourself to positive information will keep you interested and on track. It’s inevitable that you’ll lose motivation every now and then. This step will help you keep going even when you’re running on fumes.

Kickstart Your Summer Weight Loss Program

Weight loss is a lifestyle and not a fad. Implement these 5 steps above and your summer weight loss program will be successful and you’ll reap the rewards.Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Be patient, but at the same time, don’t fixate too far in the future. Otherwise, you’ll just lose motivation and give up.

Three weeks is optimal here as that is the amount of time it takes to build good habits – habits that stick. Also, three weeks is a long enough period of time that you can see good results, but not so long that it’s hard to stay motivated. Anyone should be able to do three weeks if they put their mind to it. Check out this 3 Week Diet Plan which teaches you how to build proper habits over the course of three weeks that will help you lose those unwanted pounds and see positive results for your summer weight loss program.